German A1 is the true-beginner level of the CEFR scale (the Common European Framework of Reference), and this page collects free, CEFR-aligned German A1 vocabulary word lists to study it. Every set comes with native-speaker audio, IPA transcription, and translations in five languages, so you learn how each word sounds and means from the first day.
What A1 German vocabulary covers
A1 is where you learn to introduce yourself, handle everyday needs, and build simple present-tense sentences. The vocabulary is concrete and high-frequency: greetings, numbers, family and people, food and drink, days and time, and the most common everyday verbs and adjectives. You are not expected to discuss abstract ideas yet — the goal is to get through basic, predictable situations.
How many words you need at A1
The Goethe A1 exam is commonly said to expect roughly 650 core words. Treat that as a working target, not an official quota — the figure is an approximation, and knowing a word in a list is not the same as recalling it in a real sentence. Cefra groups these words into small themed sets so you learn them in context instead of memorising a flat list, which makes them far easier to recall later.
Study order
You do not have to learn A1 words in any fixed order, but this sequence builds naturally from the most useful words outward:
- Greetings and basic phrases — the first words you will actually say.
- Numbers, days, and time — needed for prices, appointments, and dates.
- Family and people — describe who is in your life.
- Food, drink, and everyday verbs — cover daily situations and actions.
- Adjectives and connectors — start joining ideas into fuller sentences.
Start with the first block, get comfortable, then move down. Each themed set below maps to one of these steps.
How to use these sets
Open a set, listen to the native audio, and check the IPA so you pronounce each word correctly from the start. Then let spaced repetition schedule your reviews — a few minutes every day beats one long session a week, and it is what moves words into long-term memory.
Start with these sets
Pick a theme from the study order above and begin. These are real, published German A1 sets — start with greetings and numbers, then work through family, food, and everyday verbs.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CEFR A1 level?
- CEFR A1 is the first level of the Common European Framework of Reference — the true-beginner stage. At A1 you can introduce yourself, ask and answer simple questions about personal details, and handle basic everyday needs using short present-tense sentences and familiar, high-frequency words.
- How many words do I need to know for German A1?
- Roughly 650 core words are commonly cited for the Goethe A1 exam. That number is an approximation, not an official quota. What matters more is being able to use those words in real sentences, so learning them in themed sets with audio and spaced repetition beats memorising a flat list.
- Is A1 German enough to have a conversation?
- A1 is enough for short, predictable exchanges — greetings, ordering food, saying where you are from, asking simple questions. It is not enough for a free-flowing or fluent conversation, which needs A2 and B1 vocabulary and grammar. Think of A1 as survival basics you can build on.
- How long does it take to reach A1 in German?
- Most learners reach A1 in roughly two to three months, but it depends heavily on how much you study. Around 15 to 30 minutes of daily vocabulary practice with spaced repetition gets most beginners there faster than occasional long sessions. Consistency matters more than total hours.